Quality a priority for Skutskärs Trä

Packaging natural products such as wood shavings, pellets, and peat presents challenges. The products contain moisture, and the packaging will often be stored outdoors for extended periods. This makes plastic packaging film the best option by far.

– It is also important to us that the film is of the highest quality, and this is one of the main reasons why we work with Rani, said Björn Axelsson, CEO of Skutskärs Trä.

He is visiting the factory with his colleague Patrik Sjöberg to survey the production area. And he is pleased with what he sees.

– There is order and organisation, and this is evident in the end products.

Leading bedding manufacturer

Skutskärs Trä is the leading Nordic supplier of bedding products, which are sold under the YesBox brand. The company sorts, treats, and packages various grades of wood shavings to meet its customers’ needs. Its primary market is Sweden and its neighbours, but it also serves customers throughout Europe. Half of the production goes to retailers, and half is sold directly to customers, such as farmers, stable owners, and even those looking for a soft surface for their rabbit hutches.

When Björn Axelsson came on board in the early 2000s, the company had already established a partnership with Rani. There is good collaboration, and he saw no reason to change it. On the few occasions that the company has looked into working with another supplier, it always chose to stay with Rani instead.

– We have seen consistent growth over the years and now produce around two million bales annually. We could soon be up to 2.5 million providing the construction industry picks up again, says Björn Axelsson.

Focus on sustainability

Skutskärs Trä packages its products with FFS Dry film, customised as to dimensions and branding. The YesBox orange and black logo on the film makes it stand out in the factory hall.

– The FFS film is one of our best sellers in Sweden, says Marko Ahonen, sales manager at Rani Plast and responsible for the Swedish market.

We emphasise reliability and innovation and aim to produce films with increasing proportions of recycled materials.

Mathias Karlsson, Account Manager

His colleague Mathias Karlsson is the account manager for Skutskärs Trä and is in regular contact with them.

–We are continually exploring ways to improve our products to better meet customer expectations, and collaborate closely with our product developers. There is an emphasis on reliability and innovation, and we often talk about sustainability. We aim to produce films with increasing proportions of recycled material.

– We are investing in a stretch film line which is scheduled to undergo test runs early in 2025. When the line is ready to go into operation, Skutskärs Trä will be among the first customers to hear about it.

High levels of automation demand high quality

Björn Axelsson returns to the subject of quality:

– Sustainability is an important matter for us, providing it doesn’t compromise a product’s quality. We must be able to rely on the film’s capability to protect our products and trust that it won’t cause any production stoppages. We have a high level of automation on our packaging lines, which means that we need the film to perform consistently.

Moreover, compromises on quality lead to immediate feedback from our customers. Simply put, the bags must withstand handling.

He sees a large poster illustrating Rani’s Packaging for Life strategy on the wall inside the production hall.

– That’s like our way of thinking. We also focus on reliability and quality.

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Skutskärs Trä

What: a Swedish company that manufactures and sells bedding and pellet products under the YesBox brand.

Where: the main factory is located in Skutskär. The company has three other smaller plants.

About: has 28 employees and a turnover of around €14 million.

Products: uses Rani FFS Dry film as packaging material.